LOCAL,
STATE, AND FEDERAL SERVICES

The
agencies listed below are administered under federal or state
guidelines and are likewise funded through federal or state
sources. A few agencies may obtain a portion of their funding
through outside sources and have some latitude in their organizational
structure, but all are agencies with purposes and mandates
related to some aspect of public benefit. Each heading has
a short description of the agency.

INDEPENDENT
LIVING CENTERS

Independent
Living Centers (ILCs) are federal, state and donor funded
nonprofit agencies that are run by and for persons with disabilities.
ILCs are mandated under federal regulations and through a
State Independent Living Council (SILC) to provide specific
services that are not covered by other local or regional public
agencies. ILCs are cross-disability oriented and usually provide
services related to four specific areas:

Disability
information, resources, and referrals

Consumer
advocacy

Peer
mentoring or support

Independent living skills training

Other
disability related programs not previously addressed under
the four above areas, and not otherwise
addressed within a region or community, may also be provided
for within a local ILC; so it is always important to verify
what services may be obtain through any local center. Whenever
you have an unanswered question concerning a disability related
subject, check out your closest ILC. If you need more information,
call the Oregon SILC Office at (503) 945-6204.

OREGON
STATE AGENCIES

Oregon
Commission For The Blind (OCB)

Luckily,
in our state we have a separate agency for blind and visually
impaired adults who want training, retraining or program benefits
that will get them into the mainstream and general workforce.
The primary goal of the OCB, as is the goal of other Rehabilitation
Services Administration (RSA) agencies, like the Oregon Office
of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), is to get people working,
rather than have them rely on Social Security or other benefits
programs that rely on taxpayer dollars.

OCB
local offices are definitely assets to those who are experiencing
vision loss or are familiar with vision impairment. Individual
services vary greatly depending on what a person's current
vision is assessed to be, what goals are expressed, and what
a person's current and past abilities are as related to their
stated goals.

First though, one must be sure that upon application, legal
blindness is evident. For federal and state programs, legal
blindness is regarded as 20/200 non-correctable vision in
each eye and/or less than 20 degrees of non-correctable vision
in each eye. Such an assessment by an ophthalmologist (if
needed, OCB will refer you to and pay for a visit for eligibility
purposes) will allow initial eligibility. Even if you have
already been told that you are going blind or that your vision
is equal to legal blindness, the OCB will probably refer you
to their own ophthalmologist upon your initial visit and intake
application. After the initial client intake and eligibility
approval, an an OCB Counselor will usually offer vocational
guidance or sometimes personal counseling, independent living
skills training (ILS or ADL), pre-vocational training or school
(often college), job placement assistance, and a host of related
prevocational and vocational services that may extend several
months into initial employment.

Independent
Living Skills training or more commonly called Adaptive Daily
Living (ADL) is a basic foundation for independence for persons
dealing with vision loss, and usually consists of classes
and sessions that will enhance an independent lifestyle for
blind and visually impaired persons. Often blind or vision
impaired professionals will teach ADL and other classes, and
these mentors can actually relate to overcoming the myriad
problems involving vision loss. Depending on individual need,
classes may include Orientation and Mobility training (O&M
skills basically equal adequate use of the white cane for
independent travel), adaptive kitchen and household skills,
Braille - communications skills, keyboarding, and computer
skills. Many centers, such as Oregon's Portland Orientation
Center, offer other outlets for students to learn positive
adaptive vision skills, such as adaptive shop, remedial educational
skills, or recreational outings involving activities that
most sighted persons would envy. Many newcomers to the world
of blindness or visual impairment often resist some of these
learning experiences, feeling that they will be stigmatized
by taking things like Braille, cane training, or other "blind
skills." Try to think with an open mind, for most training
in blind skills are, at the least, positive choices to learn
about and possibly use throughout your entire life. All classes
and activities are directed towards independence prior to
school, further vocational training, and/or the inevitable
workforce reentry.

Restarting
or beginning a new life with independence as a blind or visually
impaired person is not swift nor always easy; but it definitely
can be done with rewarding results. It is best to make an
appointment with a counselor or teacher at your nearest OCB
Office and consult them. Then talk to someone who is familiar
with the RSA guidelines for direct services (like someone
recommended as a peer counselor) just to be sure you understand
the entire process. Remember to be patient, because where
there is a will to succeed there is a way; vision impaired
or not.

Oregon
Disabilities Commission (ODC)

(800)
358-3117www.oregon.gov/DHS/spd/Pages/adv/odc/index.aspx
Oregon is a state that has its own agency devoted to the rights
and services that involve persons with disabilities, and we
are very lucky to have such a separate commission. By calling
the ODC, one can locate state services related to disability
and find the majority of public services, programs and agencies
that are located in your area.

Aside
from providing general and specific information about disability,
the ODC advises, monitors and often regulates certain agencies
and commissions related to disability within Oregon. The ODC
provides the governor and legislature with information regarding
disabilities within and without the state and monitors national
and other states' laws and issues related to disability. The
ODC also oversees a select group of commission boards and
committees that deal with specific concerns regarding Oregon's
citizens with disabilities, such as the Client Assistance
Program, the State Access Committee, and the Committee on
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. If you have a concern or
need to find a particular service or person involved with
a certain service agency related to disability, go to their
website or call the toll free ODC number.

Oregon
State Library - Braille and Talking Book Program

250
Winter Street NE
Salem, OR 97310-0645
(800) 452-0292

The
Oregon State Braille and Talking Book Library is a National
Library Services (NLS) regional outlet, which is administered
by the U.S. Library of Congress. The program is specifically
for persons who are blind or do not have access to print due
to a significant disability that limits their ability to read
print. NLS Talking Books are 4-track tape version copies of
countless books and are provided with tape players free of
charge to registered users. Each tape within each book set,
when played on a special NLS player, will play for close to
six hours. (The tapes run at 15/16 inches per second, rather
than at standard 1 7/8 IPS.)

The
NLS tape player and the associated accessible format books
are all sent "Free Matter for the Blind" which is
a US Postal Service category, specifically for accessible
format materials (see details under US Postal
Service). Generally, blind or visually impaired users
obtain registration forms through the Commission for the Blind,
though anyone who can be verified as print-disabled can register
by calling the number above to request an application. This
service is probably one of the most frequently used federal
programs for the blind and visually impaired and is simply
awesome in it's capacity to allow personal freedom and enjoyment
through literature.

Public Transportation Services

In
nearly every large community in Oregon, the local (publicly-funded)
bus or transit system can provide transportation to most areas
one needs to visit. It is a federal mandate that persons with
disabilities are to be accessed at reduced rates and provided
equal transportation service within their community. Most
cities' transit systems have a large percentage of their ridership
come from the disabled community. Therefore, buses and mass
transit lines are very familiar with persons with disabilities,
especially persons who are blind or visually impaired. So
take advantage of the public transportation opportunities
that are readily available to you.

Persons with a disability who cannot negotiate the fixed route
bus system and can verify their limitations have the option
to use the local para-transit system. This may be an early
option for those who have recently become blind or visually
impaired.

The vehicles used for para-transit differ greatly from fixed
route busses. They are very obvious and familiar to most persons
with disabilities; they are usually large lift-equipped, accessible
vans that provide curbside to curbside service and usually
work similar to a reserved taxi service. Each community para-transit
service operates differently, however. So checking all the
criteria of your local para-transit service is very important
if disability is new to you.

It
is important to note that para-transit should not be used
if blindness or visual impairment is your only disability.
Other people with more severe disabling conditions (wheelchairs,
developmental disability) need this service, and para-transit
services in every community are usually very busy. In fact,
most community para-transit agencies discourage persons who
are blind or visually impaired from using their service, preferring
to prioritized use by disability-based need. Para-transit
is not usually timely, is often inconvenient, and riders usually
pay a small fee per ride. Call your local transit or bus system
to locate para-transit services. Then check on their eligibility
criteria before you have them send you an application. Remember
that in most agencies involving the disabled, blindness or
severe visual impairment are NOT considered mobility impairments;
hence they will expect you to primarily utilize the local
fixed route bus system.

Seniors
and People With Disabilities Services (SPD)

General
information: (800) 232-3020

SPD
offices are generally not an information or support center
for local or statewide consumers. Rather, SPD provides services,
administration, and information on related services in your
local county that are available to persons who are elderly
or disabled.

One
service that SPD provides (administers) is the In-Home Care
Program, which could be an important help to persons who are
newly blind or visually impaired. Basically, the program contracts
with and pays for Home Care Providers who do home visits (at
an SPD-approved rate) to assist with homemaking chores and
other duties within a client's home. If the applying individual
does not have the ability to manage their own activities of
daily living, then they may be eligible for the In-Home Care
Program.

One other function of SPD is to administer and monitor Oregon
Health Plan medical cards for persons who are disabled or
elderly, or who cannot maintain the responsibilities involved
with managing their own card. This SPD function is important
for persons who might be unable to read or handle the responsibilities
involved with their medical card (as a newly disabled or blind
person might).

SPD
has lots of contact with persons who are disabled in each
area and is usually overseen and advised locally by a Disabled
and Seniors Advisory Committee (DSAC), which is composed of
local elders, persons with disabilities, and SPD related staff.
If you are newly disabled, elderly, and/or very limited in
your ability to do household duties, it might be a good idea
to call SPD to inquire about what services you might be eligible
for.

Social
Security Administration (SSA)

Most
people in our country have heard of SSA, but many do not realize
that they administer two separate benefits programs that are
concerned with persons with disabilities. If you believe that
you are permanently and severely disabled and cannot presently
work to support yourself or your dependents, then you may
be eligible for SSA benefits through either the Supplemental
Support Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) benefits programs.

US
Citizens 18 to 65 years of age and certified as permanently
disabled may be eligible. However, all benefits applications
and subsequent decisions take time and are related directly
to the applicant's work history (quarters paid through paycheck
withholding into the SSA Disability Insurance Fund) and the
severity of the individual's disability as related to their
work capacity. It is a long and tedious process, so if you
think you are eligible based on a disability like vision impairment
or loss, get on it immediately!

The
SSI program is generally for those who have little or no employment
history or have not gained enough quarterly credits to qualify
for the SSDI program. Persons who are very young and fully
disabled and/or those who did not have their taxes adequately
deducted for SSA (SDI portion on your pay stubs) will not
qualify for SSDI and therefore end up on the SSI benefits
program. Often no one knows which program they will end up
on until a full review and several SSA office visits. Call
or write the contact information or number above and investigate
the options available to you, and then definitely ask for
the address and phone number for your local office for a personal
visit with a SSA Eligibility Worker. Walking into a SSA local
office works, but calling the 800 number in advance will help
you with your application significantly.

US Postal Service: Free Matter For The
Blind

Put
simply for those who are not familiar with the Postal Service
"Free Matter For The Blind" privilege, persons who
are legally blind may mail certain materials free of charge
via the US Postal Service, BUT ONLY UNDER SPECIFIC POSTAL
SERVICE GUIDELINES. Congress established the "Free Matter
for the Blind" postal statute (Domestic Mail Manual Code
E 040) in 1904. This DMM Code was meant to provide reading
materials for the blind when sent by public institutions (libraries)
when those materials were loaned, and when said materials
were returned by the blind readers to those institutions or
libraries. This privilege was sponsored by the Library of
Congress (LOC) to provide blind citizens in all areas of the
country (including our territories and the District of Columbia)
an affordable way to receive and return reading materials
produced by the LOC and related government institutions.

At
that time, Braille was the predominant medium for blind readers
and for those who were considered blind and could read Braille.
When the DMM E 040 law was established, the Free Matter privilege
was utilized mainly by the LOC within their National Library
Service (NLS) program, because sending and receiving Braille
materials at the postal rates of the day created even then
an undue burden on the blind recipients of the LOC-NLS materials.
Basically, bulky and heavy Braille books sent through the
mail might be afforded by the LOC, but no blind person in
those days, nor few even today, could afford the cost of returning
heavy and large Braille books in a timely manner. Hence, the
burden of cost for the readers returning books was the origin
of Free Matter For The Blind or DMM E 040.

In
1966, Congress expanded the Free Matter law in several ways:
the LOC Books for the Blind program would include other persons
with physical handicaps which limit their ability to read
print; large print materials (14 point or larger) were allowed
; non-print materials other than Braille were allowed, such
as the NLS four-track taped books and their respective NLS
players; and items specifically related to blindness were
also allowed, i.e. Braille slates and typewriters.

Presently,
all of the above information is correct, though various changes
have been consistently proposed by both the blind community
and the Postal Service. As of 2002 though, certification of
the inability to read or utilize standard printed material
is TECHNICALLY required. However, it is extremely rare for
anyone to be requested to prove their vision impairment upon
a mailing; blindness related organizations are more often
the target of Postal Service inquiry.

Therefore,
persons with visual disabilities may send or receive certain
printed materials at no cost, such as Braille documents, periodicals,
books, or materials in large print, which must be 14 point
print or larger. Additionally, certain items that are considered
specifically for use by the blind, such as Braille printers,
slate and stylus, and prerecorded tapes specifically related
to blindness, are also allowed to go Free Matter. For those
who are new to vision impairment or blindness, it is a good
idea to visit your local Post Office or call to have a Postal
Service worker read the DMM E 040 statute, and avoid having
any difficulty in mailing items covered under this beneficial
law.